New York Markets After Hours

Bank of Japan to adopt 2% inflation target

V.Phani Kumar

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- The Bank of Japan on Tuesday formally adopted a 2% inflation target in a major shift in its policy stance, and said it will continue its asset purchases on an "open-ended" basis to further expand its monetary stimulus. At the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting, the central bank said its "price stability target" of 2% year-on-year increase in consumer prices will replace its previous "goal" of a 1% increase in inflation. Under its open-ended asset purchases, the Bank of Japan said it will pursue "aggressive monetary easing" aimed at achieving its 2% price stability target, "through a virtually zero interest rate policy and purchases of financial assets," for as long as the bank judges it appropriate. The decision sent the yen and Japanese stocks on a wild ride: The yen initially fell sharply after the announcement, sending stocks rallying, but the currency soon bounced back sharply as the market digested the details, with shares likewise moving back to losses.

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